Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 January 1998 — Page 4

PAGE A4

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SAlUHUAY, JANUARY 10, IgM

LETTERS

let's save ear children

People ue often surprised to leam about the disproportionate number of children of color there are in this country waiting to He adopted. More than 60,000 boys and girls enough to fill 3,000 classrooms, field 12,000 basketball teams or form a line 11 miles long are growing up without a family. In a year, these children spend 21,900,000 days waiting, and 31,536,000 minutes feeling unloved and unwanted. The numbers tell dramatic stoiy; African American children make up 46.3 percent of the children in foster care, nearly three times their representation in the general U.S. population of children. Stunned by the size of this “foster care gap,” more than 30 African-American oiganizations have moved into action. They have come to realize that too often the foster care system is grinding the lives of children to a halt, trapping them in an uncertain future. They recognize, too, that children of color, in particular, wait years for adoption. Additionally, they often are repeatedly shuffled through foster care with little hope of a permanent home. These oiganizations also realized that they need to serve as strong advocates for children and young people who are moved from one temporary “home” or juvenile facility to another, to keep them from growing up without the physical or emotional security of a strong, family connection. Who are these organizations? They include such diverse organizations as the National Medical Association, National Urban Coalition, National Council of Negro Women and National Black Child Development Institute. In May at a conference in Washington, D.C., they committed themselves to do more to promote and speed adoptions and to strengthen the family links in Black communities. “We have always taken care of our children in our families, extended families, churches, communities, and neighborhoods,” said former NCNW President Dorothy I. Height. “But too many are entering the foster care system, and we are losing sight of them. We need to reclaim them as part of the Black family.” The Black community takes pride in a long history of the resilience and resourcefulness of family in times of crisis. As U.S. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton told the summit a few months ago, “Nothing can replace family. Family is genesis; family is first, llie obligation to rebuild family... is die most important obligation of Black leadership.” The system has been slow to recruit adoptive parents in Black communities, a critical need in

which Black churches and programs like One Church, One Child, are helping. There also are some innovative approaches being tried, with impressive results. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Families for Kids program, for example, has been working to step up recruitments and reduce court backlogs at 11 sites around the country. Quicker, less complicated strategies for achieving permanent placements also are producing results. According to recent reports, adoptions of children in foster care have shot up 72 percent in Philadelphia, since steps were taken to make that city’s judicial processes less cumbersome; and 74 percent in New York City, since it began offering financial incentives to foster-home operators who help speed adoptions. Sometimes the best strategy is giving families support. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, parents charged with abuse or neglect have alternatives. Instead of court action and foster care placement, extended family members, friends and neighbors can participate in a conference to decide who will care for the child while the parents undergo treatment. Kinship care is an established approach, validating the child’s need to remain connected to grandparents, cousins or familiar settings. Children know what they need, even if they don’t always know where to find it. They are enthusiastic about the modem marketing techniques, ranging from television commercials to get-acquainted suppers at Black churches, which promote adoptions. Waiting children embrace every means available to find a home and to stop the revolving door to juvenile centers and prisons. There are so many ways to help. Employers can provide adoption benefits to their employees. In some communities, volunteers photograph waiting children for family recruitment campaigns or prepare the tax returns for new adoptive families. Some ideas to promote adoption are summarized in a booklet, “Families for Kids of Color: Ways Your Organization Can Help” which is available from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (http:// www. wkkf. org.) There are lots of examples in our communities of people taking responsibility, in one way or another, for children without families. For children in foster care, this is a time of crisis, and we need to extend the family of people who care, not just for the children who wait-but so that others won’t have to. Valora Washington

Be wary of their motives Ladies and gentlemen since when have conservative Republicans been so concerned about the education of the poorest Black children to the degree that they would pay half of their school tuition. My instincts point to something rotten. For this scenario I’m reminded of a street saying. When someone you don’t know, or who you know that speaks out of both sides of their mouths gives you something, you had better be wary of their motives. Because everyone knows that you don’t get something for nothing. These following questions are directed to our religious leaders who are supporters of Charitable Trust vouchers and developing or running private schools. Are additional private institutions really what our community needs? Shouldn’t your influence be directed toward supporting the Indianapolis Public Schools system with a large percentage of Black youth that we already have in place? Aren’t some of your faithful church members, or someone they know, employed as IPS bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, teacher’s aides, librarians, mechanics, secretaries, teachers, principals etc.’? As we tear down the IPS system, we are also tearing down aome parts of our economic base, which also effects the education of a child. Because no matter

systems, but employment and board representation for Black adults is low. What about these youth’s parents, aunts uncles, cousins who may need a job? Pastors and congregations, if you want to run a private school, you should make sure it is totally private by not taking these Charitable Trust funds. The true directive of these funds is to discredit and tear down public education. Parents, as you continue to accept Charitable Trust grants, think about how it’s going to effect your child and community’s future. Be careful what you give away. Center Township mid IPS are the only two political entities that Blacks have a chance to influence in Marion County. Beware when privatization goes into effect, the nap will be over, and the nightmare will begin. Because we truly believe, they don’t have our community’s interest at heart. Many Indianapolis Public Schools African-American Parents

"Snowman's

Poop 1

one hat to pat food oa the table

I’m an upset parent, that is concerned about things that are being placed in little children's heads. My four-and-a-half-year-old daughter came home from her schools Christmas party with a dirty joke and a bag of small marshmallows, I was shocked and sick as I read “You have been

Blacks and the poor, don't rocoivo the same justice

kids me in the

you get for Xmas is the “Snowman’s Poop.” I immedi-

ately called the school and learned the teacher was instructed not to pass these out to the children. The plastic bags of nasty jokes were brought to the school by a parent and the teacher did not have enough common sense to know that this was inappropriate for children. As a result the teacher was only scolded by the Headstart administrator and I was instructed to send my daughter back to class and feel free to come in and sit or visit the classroom. How can I feel comfortable knowing my daughter is in the hands of an adult that doesn’t know how to use sound judgement. The question comes up so often about why children behave the way they do, well why not, if someone tells you to “eat poop” what would you do? Karen Hoskins "lust another Black dead" In reference to recent Recorder article, “Just another Black dead,” on the murder of Sherman Thompson, who was found shot in the back in a yard at 1531 N. College Ave. by Peter A. Pappas, who claims he shot Thompson in selfdefense while attempting to make a citizen’s arrest, why are we waiting for die special prosecutor to make a decision? If I remember correctly, by law, persons are not allowed to uae\ physical or deadly force when attempting to effect a citizen’s ar-

rest

Also if Thompson was shoot- ,' ing at Pappas, bow could a gun be found on Thompson’s body, as the repost staled? The repost did not say a gun was found in Thompson’s hand or near his body. If dus is so, then why the wait?

Our plea is that all Americans are guaranteed justice in the United States Constitution. It seems that minorities and poor people, don’t receive the same justice granted by the Constitution. This system seems to be based on “maliciousness, vindictiveness, favoritism and prejudice.” For many, if they are appointed a public defender, they rarely get to talk to their attorney. If they are fortunate enough to talk to their attorney, there is no guarantee the attorney will do anything. In this country you are definitely “guilty until proven innocent.” Many Indiana counties have such a reputation, that there are some attorney’s that won’t even practice here. There are even attorneys that will tell you, it is almost impossible to get a fair trial here if you are a minority. If a minority is charged with a crime he has almost no chance for justice. We are in no way saying that all white people are prejudice, and cannot, or will not grant justice, but history has shown us that race is definitely a factor. In this day and age when everyone, including our own president, seems to be concerned with race relations. Hamilton County seems to insure many of it’s convictions simply on race. There is even a class action lawsuit pending against the city of Carmel, for stopping motorist because of their color. This seems to be the thinking throughout this county. This system is called by many the “GOOD OL’ BOYS” system. Another major problem in this county is a lack of due process of the law. I have judges tell people “ignorance to the law is no excuse”. Minorities are held on higher bonds, and receive stiffer sentences. No one is by any means making excuses or trying to justify any crime that they may have committed. These are facts that-some are forced to deal with everyday. Those who commit crimes should pay the proper penalty, but to convict someone out of hatred, or financial gain is wrong. This IS not justice. We understand that the system is not perfect, but “access to power should not be confined to those in love with it” In other words why must innocent people suffer because of someone else’s greed or hate? They certainly don’t

deserve this.

If the United States Constitution grants all Americans equal justice and liberty, shouldn’t Hamilton County do the same? Some of the people in Hamilton County shouldn’t be hoe. We pray that you will see that people aren’t being treated fairly, in accordance with the law. We also hope that you will become part of the solution, and not ignore what is happening here. There is indeed ethical misconduct and perjury going on here. Ask yourself the question “What if it were my son or

daughter?”

whittle away at the rights embodied in Roe, Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice organizations work to preserve a woman’s freedom to decide. As we commemorate the Silver Anniversary of Roe, it is important to remember that Roe did not spring forth from a vacuum. It extended a common sense view of privacy that protects us from government intrusions into the most personal aspects of our lives. To quote from the decision, “die right of privacy...is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.” This same view is what legally protects our rights to use contraception, so we can prevent the need for abortion. Just one year before Roe, the Supreme Court struck down the last laws against contradiction in a case called Eisenstadt v. Baird. The Court wrote, “If the right of privacy means anything, it is the right of the individual, married or single, to be free from unwarranted governmental intrusion into matters so fundamentally affecting a person is the decision whether to bear or beget a child.” Looking below the surface, you see that Roe and Baird protect principles much broader than the right to privacy. It is critically important, not just for individuals, but for families and for our nation, that women decide for themselves when and whether to have children. A child bom at the wrong time, under the wrong circumstances, to a woman unprepared and incapable of caring for it, can only have disastrous consequences. The value that every child is a wanted child is deeply embedded in Roe. Today, this is a value few Americans would question. That is why die challenges to Roe that have not let up even 25 years after the decision are so troubling. Today, women’s options about childbearing and reproductive health services seem limitless. However, there are many women who face barriers. Young women and low-income women are at the mercy of legislators who threaten to cut funding assistance and health service options. Each year, family planning and abortion services become more difficult to access. Since 1973, many bills have been introduced that attempt to restrict women’s reproductive health choices. The fight for choice goes much deeper than the issue of abortion. Generations must come to realize that any infringement upon Roe will lead to further infringement’s on women’s rights to reproductive freedom. Family planning services prevent unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion. It is important that women have access to a wide range of reproductive health services, ^ i rather than having limited resources. Reproductive freedom is essential to a woman’s ability to make responsible choices and die key to choice begins with access to information and services. It is time for the nation to move beyond the relentless battle over abortion snd to join Plsnned Parenthood in furthering its work to prevent

Jan. 22 marks the 25th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that first person is an agenda that is long overdue. This

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